Machine for applying metallic fasteners to envelopes



A. NOVICK Sept. 24, 1935.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Fil e'd Jan. 11, 1933 13 Sheets-Sheet 1 1m: 01? -Abv aham' new 1/ ick- Sept. 24, 1935. A. NOVICK 2,015,437

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC. FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 11, 1933 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 -INVENTOR bra m novick AITORNEY Sept. 24, 1935. A. NOVlCK 2,015,437

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Fild Jan. 11, 1953 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Abr aham nouiok Sept. 24, 1935. A. NOVICK J 2,015,437

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS T0 ENVELOPES INVENTOR fibraham novick BY A TTORNEY Sept. 24, 1935. A. NOVICK I 2,015,437

' MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TQ ENVELQPES Filed Jan. 11, 1933 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I 1 1 I max BY fibraham nov'wk AITORNH spt. 24, 1935. A. NOVICK 2,015,437

M ACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 11, 1933 I 13 ShSGtS-Sht 6 INYENIOR aham' nmrick Sept. 24, 1935. A. QQWCK 2,01 ,431

MACHINE FOR APPLYING MIEITALLIQ FASTENERS TO ENVELOPBS I Filed Jan. 11,- 1933 1:5 sheets-sheet '7 INVENT OR BY fibvaha nouick A TTORN Sept. 24; 1935.

A. NQVICK MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 11, 1933 l3 Sheets-Sheet 9 L I I39 YINVENTOR Abraham nouick Sept. 24, 1935. Q A. NOVICK 2,015,437

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 11, 1933 l3 Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTOR Abraham novick ATTORNEY A. NOVICK Sept. 24, 1935.

Filed Jan. 11, 1933 13 Sheets-Sheet 1] F yrbl INVENTOR Abraham nouiqk ATT/ORNEY MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS TO ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 11, 1933 15 Sheets-Sheet l2 INVENTOR 191 190 48? .183 1 ,26 Abfimm n 84 a BY ATTORNEY A. NOVICK 2,015,437

- momma FOR APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS T0 ENVELOPES Sept 24, 1935. I

Filed Jan. 11, 1933 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTOR Abraham nou'mck ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 24, 1935 TES PATENT "11' MAomNn roa APPLYING METALLIC FASTENERS 'ro ENVELOPES Application January 11, 1933, Serial No. 551,193

12 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to machines for applying metallic fasteners to envelopes, and has for its object to provide an improved mechanism for feeding punched metallic fasteners, as a strip, severing individual fasteners therefrom, and delivering the fasteners with attaching prongs formed thereon to instrumentalities which serve to attach each fastener to an envelope.

The machine shown and described herein as an illustrative embodiment of the invention is particularly designed for handling fasteners of the type disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 515,792 filed February 14, 1931 for Fastener strips, although certain features of the invention are of utility for other purposes than the forming and setting of the particular type of fastener illustrated in the aforesaid application. The particular type of fasteners referred to above comprise pronged body portions with bendable tongues extending therefrom, the prongs being connected end to end to form a continuous strip which may be reeled, and the machine of the present invention has to do with feeding of the fastener strip, the severance of individual fasteners, the transference of control of the fasteners from the feeding to prong bending means, the delivery of the fasteners to the inserting means and the flattening of the fasteners after they have been clinched to the envelopes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevation of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, plan view of the Ina-1 chine of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating particularly features of the strip feeding mechanism. f

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 illustrating the same portion of the machine as Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 'I-| of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a detail view in sectional elevation illustrating features of the blank severing and forming mechanism.

(Cl. l- -Z) Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the parts at a different stage in the operating cycle.

Figs. 10 and 11 are views similar to Figs. 8 and 9 but showing the parts, successively, farther advanced in the operating cycle. 5

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating details of the arrangement of the severing and forming means and of the means for transferring the blanks from the severing means to the forming means. 10

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, detail plan view of the forming mechanisms and parts associated therewith.'

Fig. 14 is a view in sectional elevation of a, block wherein certain of the severing and forming in- 15 strun'ientalities are mounted.

Fig. 15 is a view showing a supporting block, the inside former and the outside former, separately, but. in such relation as to indicate how these parts are associated in the machine.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view illustrating the construction of the cutter punch.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the parts of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, showing the feeding of a fastener to the inserting mechanism.

Fig. 18 is a view in front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary plan view partially insection of a portion of the parts shown in 17.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 2t-4t of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 1'7, showing the parts in a different position, preparatory to inserting a fastener. i

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Figs. 1'7 and 21 illustrating the insertion of a fastener in an envelope.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view through the inserted fastener at right angles to Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the operation of the fastener prong clinchers.

Fig. 25 is a plan view of the clinchers shown in Fig. 24.

, 26 and 27 are views similar to Figs. 24 and 25, and illustrating the application of pressure to the clinched fastener prongs.

Fig. 28 is a separate plan view of the clincheroperating mechanism.

-29 is a view in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 28.

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the parts of Fig. 28 in different positions.

likereference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine as -tongues extending therefrom, the prongs being connected end to end in the continuous strip 3,

so that individual fastener blanks may be separated from the strip 3 by severance of their connected prong portions, following each operation of the stripfeeding mechanism, next to be described.

Strip feeding mechanism As best shown in Fig. '7, the strip 3 is led from the reel R over a reciprocatory feed bar 4 and beneath a presser foot 5 into a passage 9 formed between a cover plate 1 and a feed block 8. The feed bar 4 is movable in a slot 8a providediin block 9 and carries at its forward end an upwardly extending tooth 9 adapted to fit between the trailing tongue l and thetrailing prong portion I of successive fasteners in the strip 3, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. Reciprocation of the bar 4 advances the strip 3 step by step, the amplitude of the horizontal movement of the feed bar 4 being equal to the distance between the centers of. ad-

- jacent fastener blanks in the strip 3.

- frictionally holds it to the upper surface of the feed block 9 to prevent retraction of the strip. Provision is made for vertical movement of the feed bar 4 and the presser foot in timed relation to one another by mounting these elements upon a vertically reciprocable post l2. The post I2 is rectangular in cross-section and fits in a rectangular guideway I 2a carried by the frame I, the post l2 being free to slide, but not to tum therein. The upper portion of. post l2 provides a threaded stem l3, with a shoulder l4 formed at the junction of the stem l3 with the rectangular body portion of the post. In order to impart vertical movement to the post l2, the forked end of a bell crank lever I5 is interposed between the shoulder I4 and a plate It on the stem l3, the plate It being held down against the end of forked lever |5 by a coil spring I 1 encircling the stem I3. By means of a washer l3 and nuts I9 and 29 on the stem l3,

the pressure of the spring i1 is maintained strong enough to cause the post 2 to normally move vertically in unison with the engaged portion of the bell crank lever I5, the spring l1 yielding to prevent breakage or jamming when an obstrucspring 26 surrounding the stem 5a of the foot 5 serves to yieldingly maintain the foot 5 spaced above the feed bar 4 a distance determined by the stop nuts 21 on the stem 5a.

The feed bar 4 is mounted upon the forward end 5 of the slide 24, as by means of screws 4a, so that the post l2, through the bell crank lever l5, controls the vertical position of both the slide 24 and 'the feed bar 4. v The slide 24 is provided at its rear end with a downwardly extending pin 28 having journaled thereon a sleeve 28a, the sleeve 28a being received between the arms of a forked crank 29, see Fig. 6, adapted by its oscillatory motion to move the bar 24 back and forth horizontally. The sleeve 23a, however, not being secured to the crank 29, is freely movable vertically with relation thereto, so that the crank 29, while adapted to impart horizontal movement to the feed bar, does not in any way affect the vertical position, or the vertical movements, of the bar with the post I2.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, horizontal movements of the slide 24 carrying the feed bar 4 are under the control of a cam 30 mounted on the drive shaft 2. Thecam 30 acts through a roll 3| carried by a lever 32 pivotally mounted on a countershaft 33 below the drive shaft 2, turning of the lever 32 by the cam 30 serving to impart reciprocatory movement to an upwardly extending connecting rod 34. The connecting rod 34 is pivotally connected at its upper end to a crank arm 35 carried at one end of ashaft 36 extending across the upper portion of the machine parallel to the shaft 2. As best shown in Figs; 4 and 6, the opposite end of the cross shaft 35 35 carries a forked' crank 31, the arms of which embrace a roll 38a mounted on a pin 38 projecting horizontally from a collar 39. The collar 39 is pinned to the upper end of a vertical shaft 40 journaled in a portion la of the frame I, shown 40 in section in Fig. 4. That portion of the shaft 49 extending below the frame portion Ia carries a collar 4|, also pinned to the shaft 40 and the forked crank 29 for operating the slide 25 is mounted on the shaft 40 below the collar 4|. 'I'he crank 29 is yieldingly connected to the shaft 40 by means of friction disks 42 and 43 adapted to clamp a portion of the crank 29 against the lower collar 4| through the pressure of a nut 44.

In order to accurately control the movement of the feed bar slide 24- in response to oscillatory movement of the crank 29, an extension 45 of the crank, best shown in Fig. 6, is disposed between opposed stops 46 and 41, the stops being threaded into spaced lugs 48 and 49 respectively, provided by the frame la. In order to set the stops 4G and 41 in any desired position to limit movement of the crank extension 45, lock nuts 50 and 5| are provided, and obviously theyieldable connection of the crank'29 to the shaft 40 permits the stroke 6( of the feed bar slide 25 tobe very accurately set. That is to say, the amplitude of the oscillatory movement of the shaft 40 under the control of the cam 30 may be such as to tend to move the slide 25 beyond the desired limits of its stroke, as a:

determined by the stops 4|i-and 41, the frictional disks 42 and 43 yielding to permit'over-running of the shaft 40 with respect to the crank 29. With the above described mechanism, it is evident that for each complete revolution of the drive shaft 2, 7( the slide 25 carrying the feed bar 4 will have imparted thereto a complete back and forth move ment in a horizontal plane, which is combined with a vertical movement of the post l2 in the manner next to be described. 7:

'after which the presser foot 5 Referring again to Figs. 2 and 3, vertical movement is imparted to the post l2 from a cam 52 mounted on the drive shaft 2, the cam acting through a roll 53 carried by a lever 58 pivotally mounted on the countershaft 33. The roll 53 is maintained in engagement with thesurface of the cam 52 by means of a spring 55, and turning of the lever 54 imparts movement to an upwardly extending connecting rod 56. The upper end of rod 56 is connected to a crank arm 51 mounted on a shaft 58 extending across the upper portion of the machine just above the cross shaft 36. The opposite end of the cross-shaft 58 carries a second crank arm 59 extending upwardly, and as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the arm 59 provides a slot 68 for slidably receiving a pin St. The pin 6| provides a collar 62 for engaging the right hand face of the slot 68, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the pin is held in the slot 68 by means of a nut 63 in threaded engagement with the left hand end of the pin 6| and cooperating with a washer 64. Thus that portion of the pin 8| between the collar 62 and washer 84 is held in the slot 58 against sidewise movement, although free to move longitudinally of the slot.

A portion'of the pin 6i projecting beyond the collar 62 passes freely through a block 65, and is clamped therein by means of a nut 66 cooperating with a washer 61. As best shown in Fig. 1, the block 65 receives the threaded end of a connecting rod 88 adjustably maintained on the block 68 between nuts 69 and 10, with the lower end of the rod 88 pivotally connected-to an upwardly extending .arm I511 '01 the bell crank lever l5, which is freely turnable on shaft 36. As previously pointed out, the other end of lever l5 being received between the shoulder l4 and plate I8 of the post I2, is adapted to impart vertical movement to the feed bar slide 24 in response to tuming of the lever I5 by the connecting rod 68. Thus the vertical movement of the feed bar slide 24 is directly under the control of the cam 52 acting through the cross shaft 58, with the amplitude of this movement, adapted to be controlled through the adjustment of the rod 68 in the block 85.

The cams 38 and 52 controlling the movements of the feed bar slide 28 and of the post l2 respectively, are so timed that a four-way motion is imparted to the feed bar 4. Starting from the full line position of Fig. 7, the feed bar 4 first moves to the left to the dotted line position to feed the strip 3 an amount determined by the distance between centers of adjacent blanks, then downwardly to clear the tooth 9 from the strip 3, then to the right in position for'the next feeding ,movement, and then upwardly back to the full line position of Fig. 7'. The compound movement of the feed bar 4, asabove described, is accompanied by a simple up and down movement of the presser foot 5, which being mounted directly on the guide block 2|, as shown in Fig, 6, partakes only of the vertical movement of the post l2. As a result, the presser foot is maintained in position above the strip 3, as shown in Fig. 7, while the feed bar 4 is advancing the strip 3 for a feed, engages the strip at the end of the downward movement of the feed bar 4 to clear its finger 9 from the strip. During the return movement of the feed bar 8, free of the strip, the presser foot 5 is yieldingly maintained in engagement with the strip 3 to hold the same in position as it is fed, the presser foot 5 releasing the strip only when the bar 4 is moved upwardly at the end of the cycle to reengage the tooth 9 with the strip.

Blank cutting mechanism At the same time that the presser foot 5 is 5 moved downwardly to engage the strip 3 after a the strip 3. The cutter H is rectangular in cross section, and as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the 10 upper portion thereof provides grooves 12 inopposite faces for the reception of pins 13 projecting inwardly from the spaced arms 14a of an actuatinglever I4 mounted to turn with the same shaft 58 carrying the crank arm 59 which op- 15 erates the bell crank lever l5 for moving the post I I2 vertically. A stud 1'5 extends through the end of lever 14 between the arms 14a to engage the top of the cutter H, the stud [5 being locked into position by a nut 18. The engagement of them top of the cutter H by the lower end of the stud I5 serves to relieve the pins 13 of strain when the cutter II is severing the strip 3, the pins 13 bearing the weight of the cutter only when lifting the same to the non-operating position.

As best shown in Fig. 8, the cutter II is guided ina slot ll extending vertically through a block 18 forming part of the frame, the slot 11 being partially occupied by a gib 19 suitably grooved to fit the rear portion of the cutter ll. Screws 88 3o threaded through the rear wall of the slot 1'! have their inner reduced ends received in seats 8| provided in the gib 19, the screws 88 serving to maintain the gib in position to cause the cutter H to fit snugly in the slot 11,- without binding. Nuts 82 serve to lock the screws in position following an adjustment of the gib 19. A stationary cutter 83 is adapted to cooperate with the movable cutter H, the cutter 83 projecting upwardly from a plate 84 mounted on a portion of the 40 frame, with its cutting edge positioned so that the strip just clears the same as it is fed by the bar 4 between the cutters. As best shown in Fig. 12, the stationary cutter plate 84 provides a slot- 84a, and a bolt 85 passing through the slot and threaded into the frame retains the cutter 83 in position after its adjustmentwith respect to the movable cutter II. As best shown in Fig. 8, in order to obtain very close adjustment of the cutter 83, after loosening. the bolt 85, a screw 88 50 threaded through a boss 81 on a fixed plate 88 has its end bearing on the rear edge of the cutter plate 84. The adjusting screw 86 extending at an angle to the cutter plate 84 also serves to absorb some of the blow of the movable cutter II when not engage the tongue in of the next adjacent blank. Furthermore, the lower end surface of the cutter H is relieved at 1 lb, see Fig. '7, so that the shearing edge of the cutter II is limited to a 7 length substantially the same as the shearing edge of the stationary cutter 83. On the upward stroke of the cutter 1| following the shearing of a fastener blank from the stock 3, a stripper plate 89 extending downwardly from the cover 75 plate I, as shown in Fig. 7, prevents the severed end of the strip from following the cutter II upwardly, so that the leading end of the strip will lie in position to be fed between the separated cutters.

As best shown in Figs. 10 and 12, when a blank is severed from the strip 3 by the downward stroke of the cutter II, the oppositely extending tongues I of the blank are received in alined notches 90 provided in spaced arms 9i carried by a reciprocatory transfer bar 92. As best shown in Fig. 5, the transfer bar 92 is adapted to slide in a slot 93'provided in the frame I, with the plate 08 forming a cover for the slot 93, and with the forwardly projecting arms 9| movable on either side of the stationary cutter 'plate 04 as the transfer bar 92 is reciprocated by mechanism which will next be described.

Transfer mechanism As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the transfer bar 92 is adapted to receive a reciprocatory movement from a cam 94 on the drive shaft 2, upon which bears a roll 95 mounted at the lower end of one arm 96a of a lever pivotally mounted on a stud 91. The other arm 96b of this lever extends. upwardly above the stud 91 and terminates at a point adjacent to the rear end of the transfer bar 92. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the

upper end of the lever arm 96b provides an opening 98 for receiving a block 99 pivotally mounted on a pin 92a projecting laterally from the transfer bar 92. The block 99 is maintained in the opening 90 by a plate I00 yieldably mounted on pins IOI extending forwardly from the lever arm 96b on opposite sides of the opening 98. The pins IIII are surrounded by springs I02 which serve to maintain the plate I00 in the position shown, with a pressure determined by adjusting nuts I03 on the threaded ends of the pins IN. A spring I04 connected at its ends to the lever arm 96b and a fixed point on the frame I serves to pull the lever arm 90b to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4 when permitted to do so by the cam 94. In the position of parts shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the cam 94 acting through the lever arms 96a and 96b positively maintains the transfer bar 92 in a retracted position in which the notches 90 in thetransfer arms 9i are in position to receive the tongues I0 of a fastener, as severed from the stock 3 by the cutter II. r

In order to positively determine the limits of the movements of the transfer bar 92, so as to accurately position the fastener tongue receiving notches 90, with respect'to the cutter I I the rear end of the bar 92 provides a threaded rod I05 extending freely through an opening I06 provided in -a plate I01 secured to the frame by a bolt I08.

- The rod I05 carries pairs of stop nuts I09 and 0 respectively, which obviously can be set upon the rod I05 in position to positively determine the limits of the movements of the transfer bar 92.-

As shown in Fig. 4, the bar 92 is in its extreme retracted position in which the stop nuts I09 are in engagement with one face of the plate I01, and obviously, any tendency for the lever arm 96b to move the bar 92 beyond this position under the influence of the cam, results in yielding of the plate I" which maintains the block 99 in the lever opening 90. Thus the yieldability of the plate I09 prevents any shock or strain on the transfer bar 92, due to extra motion of the lever arm 9%. Since as previously pointed out, the forward movement of the bar 92 to transfer a fastener blank is caused by the pull of the spring I04 when permitted by thecam 94, there will be no shock on the bar '92 when the stop nuts IIII engage the plate I01 and determine the forward limit of travel of the transfer bar v92.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that during each complete revolution of the drive shaft 2, the cam 94 imparts a back and forth movement to the transfer bar 92, so that the alined notches 90 of I the transfer arms 9i occupy the extreme positions shown in Figs. 8 and 10 respectively. In Fig. 10 the tongues I0 of a fastener blankjust severed from the strip 9 are shown as being seated in the notches 90, while in Fig. 8, the transfer arms 9i are shown as having been moved forwardly to cause the notches 90 to centrally position the fastener blank beneath a former block I I I.

Still referring to Fig. 8, the former block III provides a reduced stem II2 extending upwardly through and slidable in a bore I I3 of the block I0, the bore I I3 being parallel to the slot" in which the cutter II is movable. The bore III provides a countersunk portion I I4, in which is received a spring I I5 surrounding the stem I I2. The spring I I5 pressing on the block III below the stem L serves to yieldingly maintain the block III in a position determined by stop nuts I I6 threaded on the upper portion of the stem I I2. As shown in Fig. 8, the stop nuts Iii are so adjusted as to maintain the lower face of the block III just above the plane of a fastener blank supported in the notches 90 when the blank is transferred from the cutting station to the forming or bending station. With a fastener blank in the position shown, the central portion thereof is engaged by a stripper III received in an opening I I0 extending centrally of the block III. The stripper II! is yieldingly held in position, with its end just protruding beyond the lower face of the block I I I by a spring H9, a shoulder I20 cooperating with 4 a pin I2I serving to limit downward movement of the stripper I" under the pressure of the spring I I9. The function of the stripper I II in clearing a fastener from the block III, after the prong bending operation, will be hereinafter referred to.

When the transfer arms 9i position a fastener beneath the lower end of the former block III, as just described, the lower surface of the fastener blank is supported just clear of the upper surface of a clamping bar m. The clamping bar In is shown in perspective in Fig. 15, from which it is apparent that the top of the bar is of substantially the same width as the block III. Consequently, when a fastener blank is transferred to the forming station as indicated at the left in Fig. 12, the pointed prong portions II of the blank extend beyond the longitudinal edges of the top surface of the bar I22. I

Following the positioning of a blank between the opposed faces of the former block III and the clamping bar I22, a vertical extension I22a of the bar I22 is moved upwardly in a guideway I29 provided in the frame I to lift the fastener blank out of the transfer notches 90 and carry it into clamping engagement with the lower face of the block III, as shown in Fig. 9. Upward movement is imparted to the bar I 22 by means of a-lever arm I24 pivotally mounted on a shaft I25 extending across the machine below the transfer mechanism. The free end of the lever arm I24 is slotted to receive a roll I20 mounted on a pin I21 projecting from the lower end of portion l22a of the clamping bar In. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the arm I24 is integral with a sleeve I20 turnable on the shaft I20, the sleeve I20 proaoiaeav viding a second arm I29 extending rearwardly and connected at its free end to an adjustable link I30. The link I30 extends downwardly and is pivotally connected at its lower end to a lever I3I mounted on the countershaft 33 and carrying a roll I32 bearing on the surface of a cam I33 on the drive shaft 2. The cam I33 is sotimed that following the transfer of a blank from the cutting station to, the forming station, upward movement will be imparted to the clamping bar I22 to lift the fastener out of the transfer notches 30 of the arms 9| and carry it into engagement with the yieldable former block III. The upward movement of the bar I22 is sufiicient to carry the block III-upwardly until it abuts the lower end of its bore II3, thereby compressing the spring I I and solidly supporting the block against further upward movement. At the same time the stripper I I1 is fully retracted within the block III, a l as clearly shown in Fig. 9. After the fas v er blank has been lifted clear of the notches 80 and clamped rigidly against the block III, the transfer bar 02 is. retracted to clear the arms 9I of the fastener and again position the notches 90 beneath the cutter II, as shown in Fig. 10,

during which time the pointed prong portions II of the fastener blank are bent upwardly in a manner next to be described.

Prong bending mechanism it is evident that upward movement of the plunger I 35 from the position of Fig. 9 to the position of Fig. will result in the arms I34 of the plunger I35 simultaneously bending the pronged portions II of the blank upwardly around the edges of the stationary former I I I. As the prong bending occurs, the tongues I0 of the blank remain undisturbed, owing to the depth of the notches I38 in the arms I34. v

The plunger I35 carrying the prong bending arms I34 is movable vertically in the guideway,

I23-by means of a lever arm I3Imounted on the shaft I with its forked end portion receiving a roll I38 carried by a pin I39 projecting from the lower end of the plunger I35. As shown in Fig. 2, the lever arm I31 is integral with a sleeve I40 turnable on the shaft I25, the sleeve I40 providing a second arm I4I extending rearwardly andaconnected at its free end to a link I42.

of a levcr I43 carrying a roll I44 maintained in engagement with a cam I45 on the drive shaft 2 by means ofa spring I46. I

The cam I45 controlling the 'prong bending plunger I is so timed that following the prong bending operation shown in Fig. 10, the plunger I35 will be moved downwardlyinto the position of Fig. 11. This movement entirely clears the I bending arms I34 from the blank, so that when the clamping bar I22 is lowered, as also shown in Fig. 11, to free the pronged blank from the former block I I I, the fastener will be supported freely on the bar I22. Downward movement 'of the bar I22 is accompanied by stripping of the The lower end of link I42 is connected to the free end block MI by the stripper III under the urge of the compressed spring 0. Since the downward movement of' the bar 52 2 and prong bending plunger I35 occur while the transfer arms 8| are in their retractedposition, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the next forward movement of the transfer bar 92 to present the fastener blank just severed to the prong bending station will result in the advancing forward edges of the transfer arms SI engaging the extended tongues I0 of the pronged fastener blank supported on the bar I22. Therefore, the movement of the transfer arms 5| from the full to the ,dotted line position as viewed in Fig. 12, will move the pronged blank along the bar I22 and deliver it to the upper end of a megazine I41, which is shownin its blank receiving position in Fig. '11.

Fastener blank magazine As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the magazine I41 comprises a yoke I48 pivotally mounted on a. shaft I49, the arms of the yoke I48 bridging the front I of the prong bending mechanism just described. The yoke I48 provides a downwardly extending frame portion I50, and as best'shown in Figs. 1 25 and 1 1, a curved portion I5I projecting above the yoke is adapted toregister with the outer end of the clamping bar I22, to receive a pronged fastener blank when the latter is pushed ofl the bar I22 by the transfer arms 9|, as described 'above. The yoke I48 further provides spaced ears I52, between which is pivotally mounted a guide I53 spaced from and having the same curvature as the portion I5I, the guide I53 having a width, slightly less than the distance be- 85 tween the bent prongs II of a fastener blank. Consequently, the guide I53 serves to direct each fastener. downwardly into the magazine proper, as the fastener is pushed off of the bar I22.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 17, the downwardly extending frame member I50 of the magazine I4'I carries a second guide member I54 between spaced pairs of ears I55, the guide member I54 being in vertical alignment with the upper guide member I53 and being spaced-from the frame member I so as to continuously direct each fastener downwardly through the magazine, with the prongs I0 embracing the guide member I54. The guide member I54 extends downwardly below the frame I50 and terminates in a substan- 50 tiallyhorizontal foot portion I540. providing a lip I56 at its end slightly higher than the thickness of a fastener. Consequently, a fastener sliding downwardly through the magazine willcome to rest against the lip I56 on the guide I54, 55

v as shown in Fig. 22. From a comparison between Figs. 11 and 22, it is also apparent that the fastener will be reversed in its passage through the magazine; that is te -say, while the fastenerprongs II extend upwardly upon entering the upper end of the magazine, the prongs will extend downwardly when a fastener comes to rest against the lip I56 at the lower end of the magazine in position for being inserted into an envelope, as will be hereinafter described. When a fastener comes to rest against the lip I56 at the end of the magazine, as shown in Fig. 22, the horizontal extending tongues 10 will be lightly engaged by a pair of spaced fingers I51 pivotally mounted on a pin I58 carried by the 'lower end of the magazine frame I50. As best shown in Figs. 18 and 19, the fingers I51 are joined by a yoke portion I59 and aspring I extends downwardly from the frame I50 to a point just above the yoke portion I58 to yieldingly limit upward turning movement of the fingers I51, as shown in Fig. 17.

The entire magazine assembly carried by the frame I 54 and yoke I48 is turnable with the shaft I49, and as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one end of the shaft I49 has secured thereto a downwardly extending crank arm I6I. The lower end of crank arm I6I is connected by a rod I62 to the upper end of a lever I63 pivotally mounted on the countershaft 33. The lever I63 carries a roll I64 yieldingly maintained in engagement with the surface of a cam I on the drive shaft 2 by the combined pulls of a spring I63a acting on an extension of lever I63 and a second spring I66 connected between a fixed point on the machine and the lower portion of the magazine frame portion I56. The cam I65 is so timed that -with the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1,

11 and 21, the magazine I41 is held against the pull of the spring I66 with its upper end in register with the clamping bar I22, while its lower end is held away from the line of movement of a fastener attaching'plunger I61. As the cam I65 falls away from the roll I64, the spring I66 will turn the magazine in a counterclockwise direction about the shaft I49 to position the fastener at the lower end of the magazine below the then raised plunger I61, the operation of which to first remove a fastener from the magazine, and then insert itin an envelope for clinching of the prongs will next be described.

Fastener inserting mechanism As best shown in Fig. 1, the plunger I61 provides an enlarged portion I61a vertically movable in spaced guides I66 providedby the frame I, the plunger being connected to a crank arm I66 by a pin I16 received'in an elongated slot "I in the arm I66. As best shown in Fig. 2, the crank arm I66 is formed integrally with a sleeve I12 pivotally mounted on a stud I13, with a second arm I14 extending rearwardly and overhanging the drive shaft 2. The free end of the arm I14 carries a roll I15 bearing on the surface of a cam I16 mounted on the shaft 2. The weight of the overhanging crank arm I14 is such as to cause the roll I16 to always bear on the cam I16, and the cam I16 is so designed as to impart a double reciprocatory movement to the plunger I61 for.

each complete revolution of the drive shaft 2. That is to say, starting from its raised position shown in Fig. 21, the plunger I61 moves downwardly to an intermediate position shown in Fig.

, 17, inwhich a sleeve I11 thereon is adapted to receive and hold a fastener presented by the foot portion I 54a of the magazine. Following the withdrawal of thelower end of the magazine to the position shown in Fig. 21, theplunger I61 is again raised with its sleeve I11 carrying a fastener, after which the plunger I61 is again moved downwardly nearly the full length of its stroke to insert the prongs of the fastener in the envelope, as shown in Fig. 22. The plunger I61 is positively maintained in its prong inserting position by the cam I16 during the prong clinching operation, to be hereinafter described, whereupon its downward movement is completed to flatten or set the bent over prongs.

Referring again to Fig. 21, it will be seen that Q with the plunger I61 in its fully raised position, the sleeve I11 is yieldably maintained in extended position on the plunger by means of a spring I16 surrounding the plunger between the upper end ofsleeve I11 and the shoulder at the enlargedv portion I610. .The sleeve I11 is held on the in Figs. 17 and 21.

' ary, the lifting of the fastener tongues I6 is perplunger I61 by means of a set screw I16, the head of which is freely movable in a slot I66 provided in one side of the sleeve I11. The plunger I61 and its surrounding sleeve I11 are rectangular in cross section, and as clearly shown in Fig. 19, the dimensions of the rectangular opening I11a within the sleeve I 11 are such as to closely fit the four pronged corners of a fastener, the outline of which is indicated in dotted lines. The lower portion of the sleeve I11, which extends below the end of the plunger I61 when the latter is in its raised position, provides pairs of alined notches I8I and I62 extending at right angles to each other, the notches I6I being adapted to freely receive the horizontal foot portion I64a of the magazine, while the notches I62 are adapted to freely receive the oppositely extending tongues ill of a fastener; as clearly shown in Fig. 20.

When the plunger I61 carrying the extended sleeve I11 descends upon the lower end of the 20 ward movement the fastener will be lifted by the 25 sleeve, as indicated by the pofltion of parts shown I Since the upward movement of the plunger I61 starts while the horizontal foot portion I54a of the magazine is still stationmitted by the freely mounted fingers I51, which yield upwardly as shown in Fig. 11. when the fastener has been lifted far enough to clear the lip I56 at the end of the foot portion I540, the

magazine is swung in a clockwise direction by 35 the cam I65 to clear the magazine from the sleeve I11, asshown in Fig. 21, at which time the plunger I61 with the sleeve I11 carrying a fastener is at the upper end of its stroke. In this position of the magazine foot portion I64a, the fingers I61 40 have returned to their normal position to receive the next fastener as it slides beneath them and properly aline the same as the fastener comes to rest against the lip I66, see Fig. 22.

With the plunger I61 in its fully raised position shown in Fig. 21, the lower end of the sleeve "1' carrying a fastener-is spaced well above a stationary-horn or anvil I66 so formed as to readily separate the front and rear wallsI64 of an envelope placed on the anvil I66 while the plunger I61 is in its raised position. Therefore, when the plunger I61 moves downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 22, the pointed fastener prongs are forced through the upperwall I64 of the envelope by the sleeve I11 telescoping on the plunger I61 following engagement of its lower edge with the envelope wall. That portion of the envelope wall I64 between the fastener prongs II is held firmly as the fastener prongs are pressed through the paper by an anvil block I66 yieldably mounted in a recess- I66 provided in the anviL As best shown in Figs.- 24 and 25, the anvil block I6! is bridged by thespaced prongs II of a ins-'- tenerasthelatterareinsertedinthewallofthe envelope, the block I65 being yieldably maintained with its upper surface supporting the unpenetration of the envelope wall by the prongs II 75 Prong clinching and setting mechanism As best shown in Figs. 28 and 29,, the anvil recess I86 in which is mounted the anvil block I85 also receives a pair of-oppositely disposed prong clinching levers I9I. Each lever I9I is pivotally mounted on a pin I92 and a rearward extension I93 of the lever is pivotally connected to a link I94. pivotally connected to the upper ends of the spaced arms I95 of a yoke forming part of a lever I96 freely turnable on the countershaft 33, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A roll I91 is rotatably mounted on a pin I96 extending between the arms I95, the roll I91 bearing on a cam I99 mounted on the drive shaft 2. A spring 280 pulling on an extension I96a' of the lever I96 serves to yieldingly maintain the roll I91 in engagement with the cam I99, the cam being so designed that the links I9I hold the clinching levers I9I spaced apart prior to and during the insertion of the prongs of the fasteners through the envelope wall, as previously described.

Following the insertion of the fastener prongs through the envelope wall, as indicated in Fig.

the levers I 9| together is clearly illustrated, on

an enlarged scale, in Figs. 24 and 25, from which it is apparent that the prongs of the fastener have been bent under, or clinched, around the wall of the envelope. The prong bending occurs freely, owing to the clearance between the lower end of the plunger I61 and the fastener. Following the bending or clinching of the prongs as shown in Fig. 24, the clinching levers I9I remain stationary, due to a dwell on the cam I99, whereupon the cam I16 imparts a slight further downward movement tothe plunger I61. 'This final movement of the plunger I61 tightly squeezes the bent-under prongs II between the plunger I61 and the clinching levers I9I, thereby firmly setting the clinched prongs, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 26. It will be noted that the inside edges -of the levers I9I are rounded to prevent the points of the fastener prongs from cutting into the paper of the envelope wall, as a result of the final setting operation.

' also "permits another envelope to be positioned on the anvil I63, with the walls thereof sep-,

arated. In order to expedite the positioning of an envelope on the anvil I83, the latter is piv- The opposite ends of the two links I98 are otally mounted on trunnions 202 received in bearing blocks 283, as shown in Fig. 29. A downward extension 204 of the anvil is connected to one end of a spring 285, the pull of which tends to throw the pointed end of the anvil upwardly 5 to an extent determined by an adjustable stop bolt- 286 bearing on a fixed portion of the frame. Thus the pointed end of the anvil is maintained in a position slightly spaced above the top of a plate 281 to permit the ready passage of them lower wall of the envelope beneath the anvil I83. Obviously, the pressure applied during the prong setting operation is transmitted through the anvil I63 and the bottom wall of the envelope to the plate 261. 15

Operation and adjustment of the machine In the operation of the machine, each revolution of the drive shaft 2 imparts a complete cycle of movements to the various mechanisms under 2 the control of the several cams mounted on the shaft 2. Assuming that the parts of the fastener strip feeding and cutting mechanism and the parts of the fastener blank bending mechanism occupy the position shown in Fig. 11 at the be- 25 ginning of the operating cycle, it is evident that a flat blank is then supported in the notches 98 of the transfer bar 92, while a bent blank is supported prongs up on the clamping bar I22. Furthermore, the upper portion of the magazine I81 30 is then in alinement with the clamping bar I22, so that its lower foot portion I54a occupies a position in which it is retracted from'beneath the then raised plunger I61, as shown in Fig. 21. In other words, the drive shaft 2 has come to rest 35 at the conclusion cf the previous operating cycle, with the parts in the position described above.

Preferably, the drive shaft 2 is connected to its source of power through a one-revolution clutch under the control of the machine operator, s0 40 that a complete revolution of the drive shaft will result from the depression of a suitable foot treadle, not shown, by the operator after an envelope is placed on the anvil I83, as shown in Fig. 22. Starting with the parts in the position of Fig. 11, it is evident that at the very start of the cycle, forward movement of the feed bar I will result in feeding a predetermined length of fastener strip beneath the then raised cutter H, as shown in Fig. 8, the movement of the feed bar 4 being accompanied by forward movement of the transfer bar 92 to position a fiat blank, supported in the notches 96, over the clamping bar I22 and the then lowered forming plunger I35. Since as previously pointed out, a pronged fastener is supported on the clamping bar I22 at the initiation of the operating cycle, forward movement 'ofthe transfer bar 92 will also serve to push the pronged fastener into the open end of the magazine I41, so that a completed fastener will be delivered to. the lower end of the magazine I61 at the very start of the cycle.

As soon as a flat blank supported in the notches 90 is positioned over the clamping bar I22, the clamping bar I22 is raised to the position of Fig. 65 9 to clamp the fiat blank securely against the former block III, the spring II5 yielding until the upper end of the block I II abuts the stationary supporting block 16. Th s clamping action results in lifting the tongues III of the blank clear of the notches 90, so that the transfer bar 92 is free to be retracted to position the notches 96 under the tongues I8 of the blank portion that has previously been fed with the strip 3. Continued rotation of the drive shaft thereupon im- 76 

